D4 - to buy or not to buy?

I recently hired a Trailblazer for two weeks in the NT. We took it on lots of dirt roads, a few creek crossings and lots of 130km/hr highway drives.

I was impressed with the VM diesel, 6 speed box, the drive train and rear cargo space. It’s no Land Rover in terms of capability, Lux or comfort, but for the price it’s not a bad package.

The main downside for me was part time 4WD, in particular RWD on dirt roads, but was good when in 4WD high.

The main plus for the family was CarPlay for navigation, phone and music.

I have never driven a MUX so can’t compare against a Trailblazer.

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Originally Posted by Discodicky

In Nov 2017 I bought a new 4WD MUX ..... Probably not fair to the MUX to compare it with a D3/4, but inevitably people do in the case of S/h vehicles in similar price ranges, but really there is no comparison, the D3/4 is far superior in every way.

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I agree that the D4 is impressive, but with $40k to spend you're going to get either an MU-X or Trailblazer with lowish Ks which is possibly still under warranty or a much older and/or higher Ks D4. And D4 services are expensive - mine is being serviced tomorrow and with front brakes and 80k service it's around $1700.

D4 much nicer but you need a decent mechanic who knows them or its going to be a pain to own. It's going to be more expensive to own than the mux no doubt.

Course you could wait a couple of years and a y62 will come up in your budget. Just think, another 27 years of patrol ownership lined up ;).

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Originally Posted by Arapiles

I agree that the D4 is impressive, but with $40k to spend you're going to get either an MU-X or Trailblazer with lowish Ks which is possibly still under warranty or a much older and/or higher Ks D4. And D4 services are expensive - mine is being serviced tomorrow and with front brakes and 80k service it's around $1700.

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Why would anyone pay the dealer for brakes? [emoji3166]

Overall, D4 services aren’t expensive - I never paid a cent for any at the dealer until outside warranty.

A good Indy will be on par with the others.


You’re applying logic to a purchase, whilst driving a Discovery it’s hardly logical - that MU-X will be as boring and bat****, have no soul and ride like everything else out there... there’s a reason for the LR feeling.

I have an Isuzu and an MG I drive when in Thailand and they’re ok... but the Isuzu is nothing more than transport...

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Originally Posted by Markus1

D4 much nicer but you need a decent mechanic who knows them or its going to be a pain to own. It's going to be more expensive to own than the mux no doubt.

Course you could wait a couple of years and a y62 will come up in your budget. Just think, another 27 years of patrol ownership lined up ;).

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I don’t even have a LR mechanic within 4 hours worth their salt... and my D4 ownership has been one of the most sublime and relaxing experiences of any vehicle.

Aside from a Gap IID tool, they aren’t any more difficult than any other.

Why do you think I’m asking on a LR page and not an Isuzu page 😆

Thanks all, I appreciate all the responses.
Some very sensible logic there (thanks Arapiles and DiscoDicky) as well as the non-logic I’m currently going through.
I will have a look at some lower specs and widen my options.
Perhaps I don’t need those extra 3kW after all?
Watch this space...

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@Tombie--

I have an Isuzu and an MG I drive when in Thailand and they’re ok... but the Isuzu is nothing more than transport...

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Hello Mike. What's with the MG? Not a Chinese one I hope? Cheers

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Originally Posted by Old Farang

Hello Mike. What's with the MG? Not a Chinese one I hope? Cheers

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Yeah, just the common run of the mill - MG3 - no Union Jack on the roof though... good for just zipping around.

The Isuzu does the longer runs.

After owning a disco 1 TDi auto few years back and about 4 years looking and thinking about a disco 3 or 4 and reading lots of info on this fantastic forum , finally took the plunge a few weeks back and bought close to the last of model run disco 4 MY16 ( built oct 2015) with 8 speed auto and 110km “ base “ model , 540 n/m torque? . Paid $51 k from a country landy dealer . Was originally after an Se or Hse but happy with base spec model so far . Came with a few options like leather seats , rear camera rear a/c , higher spec stereo etc so probably close to Se spec? No armrests but centre console lid and door rests seem to give somewhere to rest elbows if needed .

Couldn’t wait any longer for the new defender, probably getting out of my price range ( guessing probably mid $70 k when they get released?.) didn’t want to get 1st of new model . Happy with my purchase so far, Looks like a new car inside and out with good service history , car has never towed before. Blank canvas to turn into my new tow tug to tow new 2.5 tonne 20 ft snowy river van coming in October Upgrading from My13 Pajero which has been reliable a good tow tug ( but underpowered and only 5 speed auto) , and was getting up to 200 k and due for replacement .

Early days but super impressed by how smooth and quiet the ride is compared to the Pajero .
( Really quiet and steering a breeze compared to my stage 1 V8 . Ha Ha ! ).


Was looking at Mux / Dmax too , new car cost for them probably similar to what I paid for my “new” MY16 spec disco .
Rear cargo area on Mux wagon doesn’t compare to disco . Seats on Mux don’t fold flat.
I carry 2 x mountain bikes/ road bikes in rear sometimes plus camping gear and needed about 1700 mm length plus more room floor to ceiling on disco 3/4 .
rear seat legroom seemed cramped on Isuzu and was no comparison to Disco . Fit my Waeco 11 litre compressor fridge behind drivers seat on floor on disco. Wouldn’t fit in d max variant in same position.
Heaps of other reasons I went for the disco 4 . From all reports one of best tow vehicles on the market , great looking car , great view from the raised driving position , plenty of after market accessories , better brakes , more torque, 8 speed , less driver fatigue , split rear tailgate( great picnic table when touring ) , awesome air bag suspension, terrain response etc etc and swmbo gave the tick of approval which is always a bonus too!
Heaps of info on this forum to ( hopefully) help keep my disco running reliably was a major factor in my decision in favour of the disco 4 .
Just my two bobs worth ,

regards Woodsy